One unnamed “high-ranking NFC personnel man” recently suggested that the San Francisco 49ers should “play it out as long as possible without paying” quarterback Brock Purdy a long-term extension. This is in part because the club can retain Purdy’s rights through at least 2026 via the franchise tag.
Former agent and current CBS Sports NFL contracts and salary-cap expert Joel Corry shared Thursday how the Washington Commanders’ failure to lock Kirk Cousins down on a multiyear deal years ago ultimately cost that team a top-tier player at the position.
“Lowballing Cousins on the first franchise tag in 2016 led to Cousins refusing to engage in serious negotiations on the second franchise tag in 2017 after preliminary contract discussions weren’t productive because free agency was going to be imminent since a third franchise tag was going to be too cost-prohibitive,” Corry wrote.
Cousins ultimately hit the open market after the 2017 season and signed a three-year, $84M contract to join the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins played well with Washington but never achieved what Purdy has already accomplished since the 49ers made him the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Purdy was an MVP finalist for the 2023 season and had the 49ers one play away from winning the Super Bowl in February 2024.
While he’s coming off a down campaign that San Francisco finished at 6-11, Corry noted that Purdy “has the NFL’s best passer rating at 106.2 as well as a league-leading 9.0 yards per pass attempt and 13.3 yards per completion (minimum of 500 pass attempts for these categories)” since he first became the 49ers’ starter in December of his rookie season.
Purdy, 49ers general manager John Lynch, head coach Kyle Shanahan and team CEO Jed York all suggested earlier in the offseason that they’d like to make a deal before the team’s offseason workout program officially opens on April 22. Corry mentioned a date that 49ers fans may want to remember regarding Purdy’s status.
“A more realistic, ambitious timetable for signing Purdy might be by May 27 when San Francisco begins phase three of offseason workouts,” Corry added. “The 10 days of organized team activities can start being held where 11-on-11 drills are permitted. The 49ers shouldn’t be surprised if Purdy is absent from offseason workouts as long as he doesn’t have a new deal.”
There continues to be no indication that the 49ers-Purdy situation will get ugly before the draft begins on April 24. That said, outsiders are left wondering what’s taking so long for the franchise to reward their QB1, who is in the final year of his inexpensive rookie deal and deserves to be paid at least like a top-10 QB.
